Iso is the best sushi in New York. This is due, mostly, to the freshness of the fish, the portions, which are generous, the style of presentation, the bustle of the place, the color of the napkins and table cloths (an extremely appealing pink), the manner of Iso himself and the other sushi chefs who make the sushi (brusque but friendly, downright chatty towards the end of the night when he has his can of Bud), and of his wife, Miyaki, and the staff, many of whom have been there for some time, and the flowers, and the cool Keith Haring logo (Iso founded the place with Keith Haring in 1985), but mostly it is because of the sushi. It is simply fantastic and exhilirating sushi, the best in New York or, to be more humble about it, the best Sushi south of Mid-town.

The man himself

In July of 2002, Iso heard a ruckus outside his place and stepped out to see what was going on. What was going on was that a crazy person was robbing Bar Veloce, the wine bar next door. His gun went off... and hit Iso in the wrist! It was like a tennis player catching a stay bullet. He was out of commision for a month. But he is back, he is all better, and if you catch him at the end of the night near the midnight closing time, drinking his customary end of night beer, he will shake your hand if you say hello»